Tabscanner Receipt Scanning API New Capabilities

Alternative to the older docs.tabscanner.com resource for developers. That is still the official docs resource. We want app developers to be aware of a few new developments at Tabscanner.

Json code from the Tabscanner receipt capture API

  • Tabscanner is now up to 99% accurate, the highest accuracy rate in the world. This is for an OCR capable receipt API scanning image files.

  • Tabscanner now supports ALL languages in all countries, not just the ones mentioned below. The whole planet can save time on manual data entry.

  • Tabscanner remains the fasters receipt scanning API. Saving time, even a fraction of a second mounts up with thousands of scans. Receipts typically complete processing within 2 seconds.

  • Security and privacy are rock solid with all compliance and privacy measures.

  • Late 2024 the website, demo uploader, plus API dashboard were re-designed. For 2025 onwards the API is far easier to us, it is far easier to register and sign in.

  • Big news for 2025 is a new Start Plan offering 200 receipt scanning API calls. Tabscanner also supports invoice OCR, but not all types. It is a POS specialist.

Key Features 2025

  • Multilingual Support: Tabscanner's API supports all languages and countries, making it versatile for global usage.

  • Fast Processing: Typically processes receipts within 2 seconds, enhancing efficiency for bulk operations.

  • High Accuracy: With 99% accuracy, it's the leading choice for precise data extraction from receipt images.

  • Robust Security: Complies with GDPR, PCI, and HIPAA, ensuring that data privacy and security standards are met.

  • Wide API Compatibility: Easily integrates with various platforms via a user-friendly and redesigned dashboard.

  • Flexible Pricing Plans: The new Start Plan includes 200 API calls tailored for smaller-scale operations.

  • Handwritten Totals Recognition: Accurately recognizes handwritten totals, a feature lacking in other tools.

  • POS Specialist: While it excels in receipt OCR, it also supports certain invoice types, particularly those related to POS systems.

Best For...
Winner
Why

Highest Accuracy

⭐ Tabscanner

Purpose-built and trained only on receipts

Mobile Real-time Use

⭐ Veryfi

Fast SDKs, ideal for smartphone scanning

Low-Cost General OCR

⭐ Google Vision

Cheap, decent for text blocks

Scalable AWS Workflows

⭐ Textract

Deep integration with AWS services

Privacy + Compliance

⭐ Tabscanner / Veryfi

Strong GDPR / PCI / HIPAA alignment

Handwritten Receipt Totals

⭐ Tabscanner

Few tools support this accurately

Enterprise Receipt Automation

⭐ Tabscanner

Used by FinTech and bookkeeping platforms

Tabscanner accuracy for receipt capture at 99% in 2025
Tabscanner made quite the explosion when they broke OCR accuracy records in 2019 and again in 2025

Tabscanner API Documentation

Overview

The Tabscanner API provides a powerful solution for extracting structured data from images of receipts and invoices. By uploading a JPG or PNG image, you receive a JSON response containing detailed information such as merchant details, transaction amounts, and itemized purchases. This API is designed to handle documents from various languages and regions, supporting multiple character sets to ensure broad compatibility.(AlternativeTo, docs.tabscanner.com)

Getting Started

Supported File Formats

Key Features

  • Process photos of physical receipts captured via smartphone.

  • Extract data from digital receipts or screenshots.

  • Support for multiple languages and regional formats.

  • Handle documents with diverse character sets.(Tabscanner, Tabscanner, docs.tabscanner.com)

API Workflow

The Tabscanner API operates using a short polling mechanism:(docs.tabscanner.com)

  1. Submit Image: Send a POST request to the process endpoint with your image.

  2. Receive Token: The API returns a unique token representing your submission.

  3. Poll for Results: Use the token to poll the result endpoint at intervals (recommended every second) until processing is complete.(docs.tabscanner.com)

Processing typically completes within approximately 5 seconds.(Tabscanner)

Authentication

Access to the API requires an API key, which should be included in the request header as follows:


apikey: YOUR_API_KEY

You can obtain your API key by logging into your Tabscanner account and navigating to the API details section.

API Endpoints

1. Process Endpoint

  • URL: https://api.tabscanner.com/api/2/process

  • Method: POST

  • Content-Type: multipart/form-data(Tabscanner)

Parameters:

  • file (required): The image file to be processed.

  • decimalPlaces (optional): Integer value (0, 1, or 3) indicating the expected decimal precision, which can enhance accuracy.

2. Result Endpoint

  • URL: https://api.tabscanner.com/api/result

  • Method: GET (Tabscanner)

Parameters:

Error Handling

The API provides detailed error responses in JSON format, including:

  • message: Description of the error.

  • status: Indicates success or failure.

  • status_code: HTTP status code.

  • code: Specific error code.

Common Error Codes:

  • 200: Request processed successfully.

  • 202: Result is available.

  • 300: Image dimensions below recommended size (720x1280).

  • 400: API key not found.

  • 401: Insufficient credits.

  • 402: Token not found.

  • 403: No file detected in the request.

  • 404: Multiple files detected; only one file per request is allowed.

  • 405: Unsupported MIME type.

  • 500: OCR processing failure.

  • 510: Server error.(GitHub, GitHub, Tabscanner, GitHub, GitHub)

Advanced Features

Custom Fields

For enhanced accuracy, especially with unique receipt formats, you can configure custom fields. This allows the API to better recognize and extract specific data points relevant to your use case.(docs.tabscanner.com, AlternativeTo)

Line Item Resolution

The API can be configured to parse and extract individual line items from receipts, providing detailed information about each purchased item. This feature is particularly useful for expense tracking and inventory management applications.

Security and Data Retention

  • Secure Communication: All API interactions occur over HTTPS, ensuring data encryption during transmission.

  • Data Storage: Uploaded images and their corresponding results are stored securely and are automatically deleted after 90 days.

  • Client-Side Restrictions: To maintain security, the API should be accessed from server-side applications only. Direct client-side access (e.g., from mobile apps) is not supported.

SDKs and Code Samples

Tabscanner provides SDKs and code examples in various programming languages to facilitate integration:

These resources are available in the official documentation and GitHub repositories.

Support

For assistance, feature requests, or to discuss custom configurations, please contact the Tabscanner support team through your account dashboard. (Tabscanner)

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